GB2226807A - Tool chest that converts to a workbench or seat - Google Patents

Abstract

A tool chest 10 resembles a rectangular box when closed for transportation but when opened up becomes a work station on four legs 30 and with hinged work platforms 11, 12, 27 and 28 on which most tasks associated with building construction or DIY work may be performed. It has internal moulded profiles for tool storage and externally along one side enclosed storage for hand saws and on the opposite side a tool rack 23 for use when being used as a work station. The entire assembly may be transported by means of a shoulder harness which is releasably attached to two moulded lugs in the upper central position on the two short sides 15 and 16. The four legs 30 hinge within a recess in the base of the chest and each leg has a cushioning insert fixedly secured at the base to prevent slipping and to cushion impact and noise. <IMAGE>

Description

TOOL CHEST THAT CONVERTS TO A WORK BENCH OR SEAT.

Referred to in the text as "TOOL CHEST".

THIS INVENTION RELATES TO A PORTABLE CONTAINER FOR HAND TOOLS WHICH CAN CONVERT TO A WORK BENCH AND CAN BE ALSO A SEAT.

Many aids to carry an accumulation of hand tools for the various disciplines of trade professions have been introduced and these carrying cases or boxes have been constructed in various materials, in various shapes and configurations. The metal tool box which when opened presents trays which hinge outwards and which contain a miscellany of tools or spares relating to a trade or profession. Tool boxes exist for electricians, plummers, engineers, telephone mechanics, carpenters, computer technicians, television engineers, construction workers, painters and decorators, even the piano tuner and the doctor - they each have a particular relationship to the the profession or trade. The now famous "Workmate" work bench provides a facility for holding wood or metal work pieces to enable an operation or action to be performed in a stable and relatively safe siutation.This type of work bench would appear to offer the facility to securely hold the workpiece but not necessarily to contain and hold work tools for transportation or safe custody.

According to the the present invention there is provided a rectangular shaped box or chest which can hold a selection of tools aimed towards a building-construction workers, the building professions or DIY needs. The box is fully portable and comprises a number of hinged platforms which can act as work surfaces. Some of the work surfaces when opened out help to form a large working platform. The hinged platforms have supports to hold them firmly in the correct position. Around the peripheral exterior are protective sheaths or cavities for saws or thin flat objects and tool racks for use when the "toolchest" is being used as a work station. Within the recess at the base and normally hidden from view are four hinged and pivoted support legs which open out to elevate the tool box to approximately knee height with the dual purpose of provided a work surface or a seat.The four support legs are fitted with cushioning inserts which resist movement on smooth surfaces and can cushion impact as well as subdue noise transfer. The outfolded platforms have predetermined holes formed in the work surfaces into which "stop" blocks or fixtures can be inserted to enable work pieces to be secured for planing; grilling, gouging, sawing or any other required operation.

When in use as a tool chest and work bench for other professions the said holes facilitate the fixing of jigs, vice, clamps, machine tools and other standard well known fixtures. The space within the tool chest can be reasonably secure for various hand tools of various types and profiles which are captured within moulded indentations within the base and around the interior of the chest. A harness is provided which hooks on to and over moulded projections incorporated into the short ends of the tool chest. The harness enables the tool chest to be slung over the shoulder or carried by hand.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying perspective drawings in which: Figure 1 is a view of the "TOOL CHEST" in its closed mode.

Figure 2 shows the "TOOL CHEST" opened out for use.

Figure 3 indicates the base of the "TOOL CHEST" illustrating the recess 31 where the support legs are folded in for transportation.

Figure 4 indicates the interior of the "TOOL CHEST".

In this embodiment the "TOOL CHEST" 10 would measure approximately 400mm by 300mm by 250mm. In another embodiment the sizes could vary according to the particular needs the "TOOL CHEST" is required for.

Refering to Figure 1 the "TOOL CHEST" 10 is shown in its closed mode, containing within its interior a miscellany of hand tools (not visible) and the two work surfaces 11 and 12 folded inwards on two elongate hinges 13 and 14 (14 not shown) fixedly secured to the two short sides 15 and 16 (16 not shown) of the "TOOL CHEST" 10. Projecting from the said sides are four angle bracket supports, 17 and 18 (18 only partly shown) two on each side, which in this embodiment can be rigidly moulded or fixidly secured or in another embodiment the brackets can be hingedly secured in which they are folded flat against the sides for ease of transport and when folded out to support work surfaces 11 and 12 can latch in that position by any one of a series of commercially avialable spring loaded catches.In another embodiment the brackets could vary in shape and also the number on each of the sides 15 and 16. Along one side 19 are in this embodiment two saw carrying sheaths 20 and 21 which are fixedly attached either by being moulded to, bonded to or attached to by various normal methods to side 19. In another embodiment they may be only one saw sheath or sheaths for other thin tools which may be on more than one side. Along the opposite side 22 in this embodiment is a full length tool rack 23 (see figure 2) which is fixedly attached either by being moulded to or bonded to or attached to by various normal methods to side 22 or in another embodiment there may be more than one tool rack and on more than one side and of different lengths.The method of securement will relate to the method of construction of the "TOOL CHEST" 10, since in the preferred embodiment the material would be in rigid plastic material which could be reinforced, but in another embodiment the construction could be in sheet metal, aluminium, any of the plywoods or other wood or a composite of different materials. Projecting from the short sides 15 and 16 and centrally placed a predetermined distance below the upper edge in each case to obtain balance are two luggs 24 and 25 (25 not shown).

These are provided to accept the carrying harness 26 which can be made of any of the suitable commercially available materials which can be releasably attached or detached as desired and varied in length to suit the operative by selecting the suitable holes 41 in the strap 26. The number of holes and their position can be varied in manufacture to suit the particular application. Underneath the work platforms/surfaces 11 and 12 in the closed mode illustrated with Figure 1 are two hingedly attached work platforms 27 and 28 (see figure 2 and figure 4) set sufficiently distant from the inside upper periphery of the "TOOL CHEST" 10 to permit the two work platforms 11 and 12 and 27 and 28 to be in complete alignment forming a continuous flat surface when the former are opened outwards.The illustration Figure 2 shows more clearly the tool rack 23 which has along its length a series of cavities 29 into which a miscellany of hand tools may be placed for ready access. The recess 31 "see figure 3" at the base of the tool chest in which the four support legs 30 are releasably secured, diagonally opposite to one another by spring steel or plastic clips 36 "see figure 3", bonded, moulded and/or bolted through to the tool chest base. When the four legs 30 open out in the prefered embodiment they snap-latch into a firmly secured but releasable position against the four corners of the recess which affords rigidity and support.

Refering to figure 2 "TOOL CHEST" tool chest 10 is shown opened out for use as a work station, but without tools or any fixtures shown (for clarity of the illustrations) which might be expected to be there when in use. The four legs 30 are folded outwards and provide an approximately knee high work platform from the two outwardly folded work platforms 11 and 12 and the inner closed working platforms 27, 28.

The two apertures collectively numbered 34 cut in each of the work platforms 27 and 28 in the central position provide hand grips to open the platforms/lids to give access to the tools "captured" below within the tool chest storage area in another embodiment the hand grips could be a different shape and or in a different position. The other apertures 32 and 33 in both the sets of work platforms 11, 12, 27, 28 each provide anchorage for the many types of jigs, tools or fixtures as found familiar with the relative skills or professions. No such fixtures are shown for reasons of clarity and the site and shape of such apertures is a matter of choice in any other embodiment of this invention.

The two work platforms 11 and 12 are supported on the fully opened position by the four angled brackets 17 and 18. The two elongate hinges 13 and 14 are more celarly indicated and would be rigidly secured to the two short sides 15 and 16 by one of several methods of fixture, depending on the method of construction of the "TOOL CHEST" 10. In the preferred embodiment these said hinges would be heat bonded within the moulded plastic comprising the box like chest and bolted through for additional securement. In another embodiment the hinges could be instead made up of a series of hinges fixed in the same position as the hinges 13 and 14.

In figure 2 the four work platforms or surfaces 11, 12, 27 and 28 are illustrated in the working mode, but without fixtures attached at the various apertures 32 and 33. The shape and location of such apertures 32 and 33 will relate to the fixtures to be attached and to the skills of the operative. The two work surfaces 27 and 28 can be opened outwards by reason of the two elongate hinges 35 and 40 along the two long sides 19 and 22. They can rest in the fully horizontal closed position (as shown in figure 2) on to and against short projections 39 "see figure 4" moulded or fixed within they inner surfaces of sides 15 and 16. The two hinges 35 and 40 will be rigidly secured by one of the several methods of bonding and/or attachment depending on the construction of the "TOOL CHEST" 10.In another embodiment the hinges could be instead made up of a series of hinges fixed in the same position as the hinges 35 and 40. In the closed position as illustrated the said work surfaces 27 and 28 along with the two opened out work surfaces 11 and 12 form a level work station. In another embodiment the two work surfaces 27 and 28 might be constructed as a single work surface hinged on one side and covering the same area as work surfaces 27 and 28. In the preferred embodiment the four work surfaces 11, 12, 27 and 28 are constructed in 5 ply marine plywood or a suitable plastic but in any other embodiment the choice of material is optional.

Refering to figure 3 which illustrates the upturned tool chest 10 to reveal the position of the four diagonally positioned support legs 30, folded in but releasably secured within the reccess 31 at the base of the said tool chest.

The four legs 30 in the prefered embodiment will be made of tubular metal but in any other embodiment the legs can be made of any other suitable material with any of the many different cross sections. In the prefered embodiment the legs 30 would swing out or in on the commercially available spring loaded snap latch hinges to provide a latching facility to prevent the legs from releasing prematurely during transportation and when in the open, legs out, mode to keep the legs securely in position. In another embodiment the legs 30 can be attached to any of the commercially available hinge mechanims that help to keep the legs securely out when the "TOOL CHEST" is in the work station mode. The legs 30 on any of the hinge mechanisms refered to will be fixedly secured by bonding and/or fixing by any of the suitable commercial methods at the corners of the recess 31.The exact position and type of securement will depend upon the type of hinge mechanism and the material from which the "TOOL CHEST" is constructed. The legs 30 in the prefered embodiment are also manually pushed into the four spring steel or plastic clips 36 secured to the base of chest 10. In another embodiment the provision of the four spring clips may not be necessary according to the type of hinge mechanism used on the legs 30. The diagonal placement of the four legs 30 will provide space between the legs to enable the hand to grip the said legs to withdraw them from the spring clips 36. The lower extremities of the legs contain a form of shock absorber and in the prefered embodiment they would be absorbent rubber or plastic heels 37 which provide resistance to slipping on smooth surfaces and which can absorb impact and noise likely to be transmitted.

Referring to figure 4 the work platforms 27 and 28 are shown in the open mode. The inner tool storage area of the tool chest 10 is revealed to indicate the capture cavities 38 formed in the base and around the inner surfaces 15, 16, 19 and 22. In such an illustration it is unnecessary to identify the capture cavities 38 but a sufficient number and type would be provided to accomodate the normally used tools relative to the skills of the profession for which the "TOOL CHEST" 10 would be provided.

Claims (9)

1 A "TOOL CHEST" which is constructed in plastic or composite plastic and wood materials which converts to a work platform to which a number of aids and fixtures may be attached and within which and around which are fixtures for a miscellany of hand tools.

2 A "TOOL CHEST" as claimed in claim 1 which comprises four spring-loaded diagonally located legs which latch outwards to elevate the tool chest to approximately knee height to provide a comfortable workstation or even a seat when necessary.

3 A "TOOL CHEST" as claimed in claims 1 and 2 which comprises two work platforms which hinge outwards and align with two hinged inner works platforms to present a considerable flat area for an operative.

4 A "TOOL CHEST" which is claimed in claims 1, 2 and 3 which comprises external storage capacity for hand saws enclosed for protection of saw teeth and to prevent injury to the operative.

5 A "TOOL CHEST" as claimed in claims 1, 2, 3 and 4 which comprises moulded profiles within the tool chest to contain and capture a miscellany of tools and fixtures.

6 A "TOOL CHEST" as claimed in claims 1 to 5 which comprises cushioning inserts within the four spring loaded legs to absorb impact and noise, as well as offering resistance to lateral movement.

7 A "TOOL CHEST" as claimed in claims 1 to 6 which comprises a number of apertures at predetermined locations in each work platform in which jigs and fixtures may be reasonably secured to enable operations to be performed on workpieces which would otherwise be impractable.

8 A "TOOL CHEST" as claimed in claims 1 to 7 which comprises an external tool rack for placement of tools when the "TOOL CHEST" is being used as a work station.

9 A "TOOL CHEST" substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.